Ultrasound probe for a bore, equipped with an offcentring device

ABSTRACT

An ultrasound probe for inspecting a bore opening onto a peripheral surface includes an offcentring device which includes at least two strips which are elastically deformable, connected to the ultrasound probe and configured to keep the emission head of the ultrasound probe pressed firmly against the wall of the bore that is to be inspected.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe for a bore,equipped with an offcentring device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an ultrasound probe 10 for a bore comprises:

-   -   a body 12 which has a cylindrical side wall 12P, with an axis        A12 and a substantially constant diameter D12, that extends from        a first end 12.1 to a second end 12.2,    -   an emission head 14 that protrudes relative to the cylindrical        side wall 12P of the body 12 and is positioned in proximity to        the first end 12.1, and    -   a connection system 16 positioned at the second end 12.2.

Such an ultrasound probe 10 is used to inspect a bore 18 having acylindrical side wall 18P that has an axis A18 and a diameter D18 andopens onto a face 20.

The diameter D12 of the body 12, increased by the height of the emissionhead 14, needs to be substantially equal to the diameter D18 of the bore18 that is to be inspected.

If the diameter of the ultrasound probe 10 is not suited to that of thebore 18 that is to be inspected then it is very difficult, throughoutthe entire inspection of the bore 18, to keep:

the emission head 14 of the ultrasound probe 10 in contact with thecylindrical lateral wall 18P of the bore 18, with constant pressure,

the axis A12 of the body 12 of the ultrasound probe 10 parallel to theaxis A18 of the bore 18.

Therefore, in order not to impair the quality and repeatability of theinspection, it is necessary to provide an ultrasound probe 12 of adiameter suited to that of the bore 18 that is to be inspected.

The need to employ as many ultrasound probes as there are differentdiameters of bore to be inspected is impractical, and requires costlyinvestment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention may overcome the drawbacks of the priorart.

The invention relates to an ultrasound probe for inspecting a boreopening onto a peripheral surface, the ultrasound probe comprising:

-   -   a body which has a cylindrical side wall that extends from a        first end to a second end,    -   an emission head positioned on the cylindrical side wall in        proximity to the first end.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the ultrasound probecomprises an offcentring device which comprises at least two stripswhich can deform elastically along the radial direction and a support towhich the strips are connected and which is configured to be fixedremovably on the body of the ultrasound probe, the strips beingpositioned on the support so as to exert a force, oriented radially andpassing through the emission head, on the ultrasound probe.

According to another feature, the support is a split ring which has anaxis parallel to the axis of the body of the ultrasound probe.

According to one embodiment, the split ring is made of material allowingit to be deformed so as to clip onto the body of the ultrasound probe.

According to another feature, the offcentring device comprises a systemfor locking the support in rotation with respect to the body of theultrasound probe.

According to one embodiment, the support is a split ring which has aslot of which the width is substantially equal to the width of theemission head of the ultrasound probe, the strips and the slot beingdistributed regularly over the circumference of the support.

According to another feature, the offcentring device comprises a systemfor locking the support relative to the body of the ultrasound probealong a direction parallel to the axis of the body of the ultrasoundprobe.

According to another feature, each strip comprises a first end connectedto the support, a free second end, a medial portion and extends along adirection parallel to the axis of the body of the ultrasound probe, eachstrip having a U-shaped curved shape, the medial part being separatedfrom the axis of the support by a distance greater than that between theaxis of the support and the first end of each strip.

In one configuration, the support comprises, for each strip, an openingmaking it possible to accommodate the strip, when it is compressed,against the ultrasound probe.

According to one embodiment, each opening has an approximatelyrectangular shape which extends from a first end to a second end, eachstrip comprising a first end connected to the first end of the opening,each opening having a width equal to or slightly greater than the widthof each strip and a length equal to or slightly greater than the lengthof each strip.

In one orientation, the strips are connected to the support so that thesecond ends of the strips are closer to the first end of the body of theultrasound probe than the first ends of the strips.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the followingdescription of the invention, which is given solely by way of example,with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an ultrasound probe in a bore, whichillustrates the prior art,

FIG. 2 is a side view of an ultrasound probe equipped with a couplingsupport and positioned in a bore, which illustrates one embodiment ofthe invention,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ultrasound probe shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a coupling support, which illustrates oneembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5A is a view along the arrow A of FIG. 4,

FIG. 5B is a cross section along the line B-B of FIG. 4,

FIG. 5C is a cross section along the line C-C of FIG. 4,

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 8, 9A and 9B represent an overview whichillustrates the use of an ultrasound probe equipped with a couplingsupport,

FIG. 10 is a side view of an ultrasound probe equipped with anoffcentring device, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 11 is a side view of an offcentring device, which illustrates oneembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 12A is a cross section along the line A-A of FIG. 11,

FIG. 12B is a cross section along the line B-B of FIG. 11,

FIG. 12C is a cross section along the line C-C of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the offcentring device shown in FIG. 11,

FIG. 14 is a cross section of one end of the offcentring device mountedon an ultrasound probe, which illustrates a detail of the embodimentshown in FIG. 10,

FIG. 15A is a side view of an ultrasound probe equipped with anoffcentring device deformed as if the ultrasound probe were introducedinto a first bore with a small diameter,

FIG. 15B is a front view of the ultrasound probe of FIG. 15A introducedinto the first bore with the small diameter,

FIG. 16A is a side view of an ultrasound probe equipped with anoffcentring device deformed as if the ultrasound probe were introducedinto a second bore with a diameter greater than that of the first bore,

FIG. 16B is a front view of the ultrasound probe of FIG. 16A introducedinto the second bore,

FIG. 17 is a side view of an ultrasound probe equipped with a couplingsupport and an offcentring device, which illustrates one embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An ultrasound probe 22 for inspecting a bore 24 comprises:

-   -   a body 26 which has a cylindrical side wall 26P, with an axis        A26 and a substantially constant diameter D26, that extends from        a first end 26.1 to a second end 26.2,    -   an emission head 28 that protrudes relative to the cylindrical        side wall 26P of the body 26 and is positioned in proximity to        the first end 26.1, and    -   a connection system 30 positioned at the second end 26.2.

For the rest of the description, a longitudinal direction is parallel tothe axis A26 and a radial direction is perpendicular to the axis A26. Atransverse plane is a plane perpendicular to the axis A26.

A bore is intended to mean a cylindrical hole, which may be blind,whatever its embodiment. The bore 24 comprises a cylindrical side wallP24, with an axis referenced A24 and a diameter D24. The bore 24 opensonto a planar peripheral surface 32 that extends over the perimeter ofthe bore 24. According to one configuration, the peripheral surface 32is perpendicular to the axis A24 of the bore. The bore 24 also comprisesa peripheral edge 33, which corresponds to the junction between theperipheral side wall P24 and the peripheral surface 32.

According to one embodiment, the first end 26.1 of the body 26 of theultrasound probe 22 comprises a planar end face 34 perpendicular to theaxis A26 and a rounded peripheral edge 36 joining the end face 34 to thecylindrical side wall 26P.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the body 26 comprises a peripheral channel 38positioned in a transverse plane.

According to one embodiment, the emission head 28 is a parallelepipedpartially embedded in the body 26 of the ultrasound probe, one of thefaces of the parallelepiped, referred to as the contact face F28, beingarranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction which isradial and oriented in the direction of the cylindrical side wall P24 ofthe bore 24 during inspection.

According to one embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIGS. 2to 4, 5A to 5C, the ultrasound probe 22 is equipped with a couplingsupport 40 configured to be fitted over the body 26 of the ultrasoundprobe 22 and to be pressed against the peripheral surface 32 in order toclose the bore 24.

This coupling support 40 comprises a first face 40.1, a second face40.2, a through-orifice 42 which extends between the first and secondfaces 40.1 and 40.2 and has an axis A42 and a diameter D42. Thisdiameter D42 is equal to or greater than the diameter D26 of the body 26of the ultrasound probe 22, in order to allow the coupling support 40 toslide along the body 26 of the ultrasound probe. The through-orifice 42comprises at least one portion 43 with a diameter equal to that of thebody 26 of the ultrasound probe.

Thus, the axis A26 of the body 26 of the ultrasound probe 22 coincideswith the axis A42 of the through-orifice 42.

The first face 40.1 of the coupling support 40, also referred to as thecontact face, is perpendicular to the axis A42 of the through-orifice 42and is configured to be pressed against the peripheral surface 32.Consequently, during operation, when the contact face 40.1 of thecoupling support 40 is pressed against the peripheral surface 32 of thebore 24, the axis A26 of the body 26 of the ultrasound probe 22 isparallel to the axis A24 of the bore 24.

The coupling support 40 comprises a collar 44, which extends along adirection perpendicular to the axis A42 of the through-orifice 42 andhas a first face 46, which corresponds to the contact face 40.1 of thecoupling support 40 and is perpendicular to the axis A42. The contactface 40.1 has an external diameter D44 greater than the diameter D24 ofthe bore 24 to be inspected, so that the contact face 40.1 is pressedagainst the peripheral surface 32 over the entire perimeter of the bore24 during operation, so as to close the bore 24.

So that the coupling support 40 can adapt to different diameters of abore 24, the diameter D44 is greater than or equal to 2 times thediameter D42 of the through-orifice 42.

To give an order of magnitude, the collar has a thickness (dimensionmeasured along a direction parallel to the axis A42) of about 1 to 2 cm.

In order to reinforce the sealing, the coupling support 40 comprises aseal 48 intended to be positioned between the contact face 40.1 of thecoupling support 40 and the peripheral surface 32 of the bore 24.

According to one embodiment, the seal 48 is an O-ring seal and thecontact face 40.1 comprises an annular channel 50 at a distance from thethrough-orifice 42 (and preferably coaxial with the through-orifice 42),the said channel 50 being configured to partially accommodate and holdthe seal 48.

The coupling support 40 comprises a tubular portion 52 coaxial with thethrough-orifice 42, which has a first end connected to the collar 44 anda second end which corresponds to the second face 40.2 of the couplingsupport 40. This tubular portion 52 has an internal diameter equal tothe diameter D42 of the through-orifice 42.

According to one embodiment, the through-orifice 42 has a diameter D42slightly greater than the diameter D26 of the body 26 of the ultrasoundprobe 22 and comprises only one portion 43, the diameter of which isequal to the diameter D26 of the body 26 of the ultrasound probe andwhich is positioned adjacent to the second face 40.2 of the couplingsupport that is the farthest from the contact face 40.1.

The function of the tubular portion 52 is to increase the guiding lengthof the through-orifice 42. In order to optimize the positioning of thebody 26 of the ultrasound probe 22 in the bore 24, the through-orifice42 must have a length (dimension measured along a direction parallel tothe axis A42) greater than or equal to 5 times the diameter D26 of thebody 26 of the ultrasound probe.

In order to allow the ultrasound probe 22 to slide in thethrough-orifice 42 of the coupling support 40, the through-orifice 42comprises at least one longitudinal groove 54, which extends over theentire length of the through-orifice 42 and the cross section of whichis configured in order to allow the emission head 28 to pass through.For each groove 54, the coupling support 40 comprises a plug 56 forclosing the groove, so that a coupling liquid cannot pass from the firstface 40.1 to the second face 40.2 of the coupling support 40 through thelongitudinal groove 54.

The coupling support 40 comprises a system 58 for locking the ultrasoundprobe 22 relative to the coupling support 40 along a direction parallelto the axis A42 of the through-orifice 42. This locking system 58 isconfigured to occupy a free state, in which the ultrasound probe 22 canslide relative to the coupling support 40, and a blocked state, in whichthe ultrasound probe 22 cannot slide relative to the coupling support40. This locking system 58 makes it possible to adjust a distancebetween the emission head 28 and the contact face 40.1 of the couplingsupport 40 and to keep this distance constant. Thus, during inspection,the emission head 28 remains at a predefined and constant depth in thebore 24.

According to one embodiment, the coupling support 40 comprises apressure screw 60 which is screwed into a radial tapped hole that opensinto the through-orifice 42. Thus, when the pressure screw 60 is screwedin and in contact with the ultrasound probe 22, it locks the saidultrasound probe 22, which corresponds to the blocked state. When thepressure screw 60 is no longer in contact with the ultrasound probe 22,the latter can slide relative to the coupling support 40, whichcorresponds to the free state.

Advantageously, the pressure screw 60 is dimensioned and positioned soas to close the longitudinal groove 54 in the blocked state and fulfilthe function of a plug 56, as illustrated in FIG. 5C.

The coupling support 40 comprises a coupling fluid feed conduit 62 whichhas a first end 62.1 that opens onto the contact face 40.1 and thethrough-orifice 42 (as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5A), and a second end62.2 positioned so as to make it possible to supply the feed conduit 62when the coupling support 40 is pressed against the peripheral surface32 of the bore 24. According to one configuration, the feed conduit 62is straight and the second end 62.2 is positioned on the second face40.2 of the coupling support 40. Preferably, the feed conduit 62 isdiametrically opposite the longitudinal groove 54. The coupling support40 comprises a plug 64 for closing the feed conduit 62.

The coupling support 40 may be made of metal or plastic, and produced byany suitable means.

The operation of the ultrasound probe 22 equipped with a couplingsupport 40 is described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 8, 9Aand 9B.

First, the ultrasound probe 22 is introduced into the through-orifice 42of the coupling support 40 while positioning the emission head 28 in thelongitudinal groove 54, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

When the emission head 28 has passed through the coupling support 40,the coupling support 40 pivots around the ultrasound probe 22 so as toposition the emission head 28 in extension of the coupling fluid feedconduit 62, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

Next, the position of the emission head 28 relative to the contact face40.1 of the coupling support 40 is adjusted. According to one operatingmode, an adjustment ring 66 may be used.

This adjustment ring 66 has an internal diameter allowing introductionof the ultrasound probe 22. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the height H ofthe adjustment ring 66 is selected as a function of the desired distancebetween the emission head 28 of the ultrasound probe 22 and the contactface 40.1 of the coupling support 40.

The adjustment method comprises a first step of positioning a first face66.1 of the adjustment ring 66 against a reference surface 68, a secondstep of introducing the ultrasound probe into the adjustment ring 66until its first end 26.1 is in contact with the reference surface 68, athird step of moving the coupling support 40 in translation along thebody 26 of the ultrasound probe until the contact face 40.1 of thecoupling support 40 is in contact with the second face 66.2 of theadjustment ring 66, and a fourth step of locking the ultrasound proberelative to the coupling support 40 by tightening the pressure screw 60,as illustrated by FIG. 8.

Next, the ultrasound probe 22 is introduced into the bore 24 to beinspected, and the contact face 40.1 of the coupling support 40 ispressed against the peripheral surface 32 of the bore, as illustrated inFIG. 9A. The longitudinal groove 54 is closed by the pressure screw 60,as illustrated in FIG. 9B. A coupling liquid is introduced through thefeed conduit 62 into the bore 24 to be inspected.

When the bore 24, the feed conduit 62 and the longitudinal groove 54 arefilled with coupling liquid, the plug 64 is fitted.

The bore 24 is then inspected by pivoting the ultrasound probe 22 whilekeeping the contact face 40.1 of the coupling support 40 pressed againstthe peripheral surface 32 of the bore 24.

The coupling support makes it possible:

-   -   to keep the ultrasound probe 22 parallel to the axis A24 of the        bore 24 to be inspected,    -   to inspect the bore 24 at different depths,    -   to limit as far as possible the consumption of coupling liquid,        and    -   to keep the coupling liquid in the bore in order to ensure        constant and uniform ultrasound coupling during the inspection.

According to one feature of the invention, the ultrasound probe 22 isequipped with an offcentring device 70, as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11,12A to 12C, 13, 14, 15A, 15B, 16A and 16B.

The offcentring device 70 comprises at least two strips 72, 72′ whichcan deform elastically along the radial direction when the offcentringsystem is mounted on the body 26 of an ultrasound probe 22, and asupport 74 to which the strips 72, 72′ are connected and which isconfigured to be fixed removably on the body 26 of an ultrasound probe22.

The strips 72, 72′ are positioned on the support 74 so as to exert aforce, oriented radially and passing through the emission head 28, onthe ultrasound probe 22. Thus, during operation, the emission head 28 ispressed against the cylindrical side wall 24P of the bore 24.

The support 74 is a split ring 76, split over its entire length, whichhas an axis referenced A76 and a diameter, in the undeformed state,equal to or slightly smaller than that of the body 26 of the ultrasoundprobe 22. When the support 74 is mounted on the ultrasound probe 22, theaxis A76 is parallel to the axis A26 of the body 26 of the ultrasoundprobe.

According to one embodiment, the split ring 76 is made of a materialallowing it to be deformed so as to clip onto the body 26 of theultrasound probe 22.

The split ring 76 comprises a slot 78 (shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C) whichhas a width 178 less than the diameter D26 of the body 26 of theultrasound probe 22, in order to make it possible to hold the split ring76 on the body 26 of the ultrasound probe 22, and greater than a givenvalue in order to make it possible for the emission head 28 of theultrasound probe 22 to pass through.

As a variant, the support 74 has a diameter equal to that of the body 26of the ultrasound probe 22, and is substantially rigid. In this case, itis fitted onto the body 26 of the ultrasound probe 22 by sliding it fromthe first end 26.1 of the body 26.

The offcentring device comprises a system for locking the support 74 inrotation relative to the body 26 of the ultrasound probe 22. Accordingto one embodiment, the slot 78 fulfils the function of the lockingsystem, the width 178 of the slot 78 being substantially equal to thewidth 128 of the emission head 28.

The strips 72, 72′ and the slot 78 are distributed regularly over thecircumference of the support 74. Thus, during operation, the strips 72,72′ exert a force, oriented radially and passing through the emissionhead 28, on the ultrasound probe 22 in order to press the latter againstthe cylindrical side wall 24P of the bore to be inspected.

Preferably, the strips 72, 72′ are identical and symmetrical withrespect to a plane of symmetry Ps passing through the axis A76 of thesupport 76 and through the middle of the slot 78.

The offcentring device 70 comprises a system for locking the support 74relative to the body 26 of the ultrasound probe 22 along a directionparallel to the axis A26 of the body 26 of the ultrasound probe.

According to one embodiment, the split ring 76 comprises a first end76.1 which is curved in order to match the first end 26.1 of the body26, and a second end 76.2 which is curved in order to be accommodated inthe peripheral channel 38 provided on the body 26, as illustrated inFIG. 14. Thus, the split ring 76 has a length equal to the distancebetween the first end 26.1 and the peripheral channel 38 of the body 26of the ultrasound probe.

Each strip 72, 72′ comprises a first end 72.1, 72.1′ connected to thesupport 74, a free second end 72.2, 72.2′ and a medial portion 72M,72M′, and extends along a direction parallel to the axis A26 of the body26 of the ultrasound probe 22. In a complementary fashion, for eachstrip 72, 72′, the support 74 comprises an opening 80, 80′ making itpossible to accommodate the strip 72, 72′ when it is compressed againstthe ultrasound probe. Each opening 80, 80′ has an approximatelyrectangular shape, which extends from a first end 80.1, 80.1′ to asecond end 80.2, 80.2′.

For each strip 72, 72′, the first end 72.1, 72.1′ is connected to thefirst end 80.1, 80.1′ of the corresponding opening 80, 80′.

Each opening 80, 80′ has a width 180 equal to or slightly greater thanthe width 172 of each strip 72, 72′.

Each opening 80, 80′ has a length L80 (distance between the first andsecond ends 80.1, 80.2) equal to or slightly greater than the length ofeach strip 72, 72′ (distance between the first and second ends 72.1,72.2 following the profile of the strip 72).

According to one embodiment, the strips 72, 72′ and the support 74 havethe same thickness (dimension measured along the radial direction) andare made in one piece.

In the undeformed state, each strip 72, 72′ has a U-shaped curved shape,as illustrated in FIG. 10, the medial part 72M, 72M′ being separatedfrom the axis A76 of the support by a distance greater than that betweenthe axis A76 of the support and the first and second ends of each strip72, 72′. According to one configuration, the first and second ends ofeach strip 72, 72′ are separated from the axis A76 by a distance equalto the radius of the support 74. The second ends 72.2, 72.2′ of thestrips 72, 72′ are distanced from the second ends 80.2, 80.2′ of theopenings 80, 80′.

In the deformed state, the medial part 72M, 72M′ is separated from theaxis A76 by a distance substantially equal to the radius of the support74, as illustrated in FIG. 15A. The second ends 72.2, 72.2′ of thestrips 72, 72′ are close to the second ends 80.2, 80.2′ of the openings80, 80′.

According to one configuration, the strips 72, 72′ are connected to thesupport 74 so that the second ends 72.2, 72.2′ of the strips 72, 72′ arecloser to the first end 26.1 of the body 26 of the ultrasound probe thanthe first ends 72.1, 72.1′ of the strips 72, 72′ are.

The operation of offcentring device 70 is as follows:

The support 74 is mounted on the body 26 of the ultrasound probe 22.Once mounted, the support 74 is locked relative to the body 26 of theultrasound probe 22.

The body 26 of the ultrasound probe is introduced into the bore 24. Asillustrated in FIGS. 15B and 16B, the strips 72, 72′ are compressed to agreater or a lesser extent depending on the diameter of the bore 24,24′. In both cases, the strips 72, 72′ exert a force on the ultrasoundprobe 22, which tends to press the emission head 28 against thecylindrical side wall 24P of the bore 24 to be inspected.

The offcentring device makes it possible:

-   -   to use a single ultrasound probe for inspecting different bore        diameters,    -   to always keep the emission head 28 of the ultrasound probe 22        in contact with the wall of the bore 24, and to do so with a        constant pressure.

According to one embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 17, the ultrasoundprobe 22 is equipped with a coupling support 40 and an offcentringsystem 70. In this case, the coupling support 40 comprises longitudinalgrooves 54.1 and 54.2 for each strip 72, 72′, as illustrated in FIGS. 5Aand 5B.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An ultrasound probe for inspecting a boreopening onto a peripheral surface, the ultrasound probe comprising: abody which has a cylindrical side wall that extends from a first end toa second end; an emission head positioned on the cylindrical side wallin proximity to the first end; and an offcentring device comprising asupport and at least two strips configured to deform elastically along aradial direction and connected to the support, the support configured tobe fixed removably on the body of the ultrasound probe, the at least twostrips positioned on the support so as to exert a force, orientedradially and passing through the emission head, on the ultrasound probe.2. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein the support is asplit ring which has an axis parallel to the axis of the body of theultrasound probe.
 3. The ultrasound probe according to claim 2, whereinthe split ring is made of material allowing it to be deformed so as toclip onto the body of the ultrasound probe.
 4. The ultrasound probeaccording to claim 1, wherein the offcentring device comprises a systemfor locking the support in rotation with respect to the body of theultrasound probe.
 5. The ultrasound probe according to claim 4, whereinthe support is a split ring which has a slot of which the width issubstantially equal to the width of the emission head of the ultrasoundprobe, the strips and the slot being distributed regularly over thecircumference of the support.
 6. The ultrasound probe according to claim1, wherein the offcentring device comprises a system for locking thesupport relative to the body of the ultrasound probe along a directionparallel to the axis of the body of the ultrasound probe.
 7. Anultrasound probe for inspecting a bore opening onto a peripheralsurface, the ultrasound probe comprising: a body which has a cylindricalside wall that extends from a first end to a second end; an emissionhead positioned on the cylindrical side wall in proximity to the firstend; and an offcentring device which comprises at least two strips whichcan deform elastically along the radial direction and a support to whichthe strips are connected and which is configured to be fixed removablyon the body of the ultrasound probe, the strips being positioned on thesupport so as to exert a force, oriented radially and passing throughthe emission head, on the ultrasound probe, wherein each strip comprisesa first end connected to the support, a free second end, a medialportion and extends along a direction parallel to the axis of the bodyof the ultrasound probe, each strip having a U-shaped curved shape, themedial part being separated from the axis of the support by a distancegreater than that between the axis of the support and the first end ofeach strip.
 8. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, wherein thesupport comprises, for each strip, an opening making it possible toaccommodate the strip, when it is compressed, against the ultrasoundprobe.
 9. An ultrasound probe, for inspecting a bore opening onto aperipheral surface, the ultrasound probe comprising: a body which has acylindrical side wall that extends from a first end to a second end; anemission head positioned on the cylindrical side wall in proximity tothe first end; and an offcentring device which comprises at least twostrips which can deform elastically along the radial direction and asupport to which the strips are connected and which is configured to befixed removably on the body of the ultrasound probe, the strips beingpositioned on the support so as to exert a force, oriented radially andpassing through the emission head, on the ultrasound probe wherein thesupport comprises, for each strip, an opening making it possible toaccommodate the strip, when it is compressed, against the ultrasoundprobe, and wherein each opening has an approximately rectangular shapewhich extends from a first end to a second end, each strip comprising afirst end connected to the first end of the opening, each opening havinga width equal to or slightly greater than the width of each strip and alength equal to or slightly greater than the length of each strip. 10.The ultrasound probe according to claim 7, wherein the strips areconnected to the support so that the second ends of the strips arecloser to the first end of the body of the ultrasound probe than thefirst ends of the strips.